Wednesday, September 14, 2005

It's gonna be a long season for Leafs fans.

Get used to reading stuff likethis every day from Centre of the Universe(tm)

Jason Allison missed the first scrimmage with a minor hip problem. Eric Lindros was sent flying by a solid body check during that same scrimmage.

Day 2 at the Maple Leafs training camp reminded everyone on hand just how fragile Toronto's chances are of remaining among the NHL's top echelon teams.

The two oft-injured centres, brilliant when they're healthy, must stay out of the medical ward this season for Toronto to have any chance.

And...

Leaf Nation, whatever that is, will be pleased to know that Eric Lindros made it through his first Maple Leaf intrasquad scrimmage yesterday. He even took a thundering hit from a 6-foot-3 rookie defenceman named Staffan Kronwall.

But Jason Allison, who hasn't played a meaningful NHL game in almost 32 months, didn't make it to the ice for his first scrimmage after the Leafs' new medical staff decided to keep him out because of a hip flexor injury he suffered while preparing for camp a week ago.

Yep, just one day into training camp and Leafs fans must be already choking on their beer nuts.

Stat Split of the Day - Jason Allison

Allison is a career +35 player and decent defensively, but he's had some unusual problems against the Buffalo Sabres, now his rival team, over his career. In 26 career games against the swords, he has a -15 and just 10 points. His new buddy Eric Lindros has no such problem against the Sabres as Eric has 17 goals and 24 assists in 33 games against Buffalo.